History

This pattern seems to have been the first
direct offspring of the original Hungarian
double-figure version [IPCS #90]. The
close relationship is indicated by the retention
of the figure of Kuoni the shepherd as
Unter of Hearts, and that of Stüszi the
hunter (albeit re-drawn) as Ober of Bells.
All figures on the Obers and Unters are
similar to type 1 (except the positions of
the crossbows). Two of the original seasons
on the Deuces are retained, more or less
exactly, namely the girl with flowers
for Spring, and the two figures engaged in
pressing grapes for Autumn. However, the
figures for Summer and Winter are now
female: Summer is a girl with a sickle and
sheaf, while Winter is an old woman with
a bundle of sticks on her back. It is not
known exactly when the changes to the
Seasons took place, but probably at the
same time the characters of Stüszi and
Kuoni were modified. Although at first the
names were probably given in Hungarian,
later packs were made with names in German,
or even without names (in the former
Czechoslovakia).

Characteristic features

The Deuces, Obers and Unters are named
in Hungarian or German, or not at all.